--- title: "College Admissions and Test Prep Blog — page 3 | Elite Prep" description: "Admissions guides, test strategy and study advice from Elite Prep instructors and counselors." url: "https://eliteprep.com/blog/page/3/" image: "https://media.eliteprep.com/blog-library-gradient-webp-card.jpg" language: "en" source: "eliteprep build" --- ![Four students talking over their notes in a library](https://eliteprep.com/media/blog-library-gradient-webp-w1600.webp) # Blog Admissions guides, test strategy and study advice from Elite Prep instructors and counselors. - ![A smiling student points at a large portrait painting on an easel as another student works on it in an art studio.](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-1387076161-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Showcase Your Talents in the College Application Process with Optional Supplemental Portfolios](https://eliteprep.com/blog/optional-supplemental-portfolios/) Many colleges allow students to submit supplemental materials evidencing their special talents and interests even though they do not apply for a major in fine… November 4, 2024 - ![A young man in a grey blazer counts on his fingers while speaking to seated students in a classroom](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-1338898513-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Standing Out in the Activities and Awards Section: A Guide for the UC First-Year Application and the Common App](https://eliteprep.com/blog/standing-out-in-the-activities-and-awards-section-a-guide-for-the-university-of-california-and-common-app/) To maximize the impact of University of California and Common App “Activities and Awards” section… October 28, 2024 - ![A person seated at a desk holding two printed letters, with a closed laptop and notebook nearby.](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-1268788641-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [The Role of Recommendation Letters in College Applications: FERPA and Tips for High School Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/the-role-of-recommendation-letters-in-college-applications/) Recommendation letters, written for college applicants by teachers, counselors, or mentors who know the students well… October 21, 2024 - ![Orange sticky note reading "Financial Aid" beside sketches of a graduation cap and money bag, a marker, and cash.](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-financialaid-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [College Financial Aid: Unlocking Access to Higher Education](https://eliteprep.com/blog/college-financial-aid-unlocking-access-to-higher-education/) This article explains the various types of financial aid available to students and parents. October 17, 2024 - ![Two students reviewing papers and a tablet together in front of a whiteboard covered in diagrams](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-engineering5-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Applying to Impacted Majors in College Applications: Strategies for Success](https://eliteprep.com/blog/navigating-impacted-majors-in-college-strategies-for-success/) Engineering, computer science, nursing and business are impacted majors at many colleges. Learn what that means and how to apply to them successfully. October 8, 2024 - ![Infographic "A Quick Guide to UCSD's 8 Colleges" comparing Revelle, Muir, Warren, Roosevelt, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Marshall colleges' majors, GE requirements and unique features.](https://media.eliteprep.com/ucsd%2B8%2Bcollege%2Binfographic%2B01%2B%28Elite%2Blogo%29%2B%28rev%29-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [A Guide to the 8-College System at UC San Diego](https://eliteprep.com/blog/a-guide-to-the-8-college-system-at-uc-san-diego/) UC San Diego (UCSD) has a unique system where the undergraduate experience is divided into eight residential colleges, each with its own distinct philosophy… October 3, 2024 - ![A person holding a document marked with a graduation cap icon while using a calculator beside stacks of coins](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-936987292-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [How Colleges Recalculate Applicants’ GPAs for College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-colleges-recalculate-applicants-gpas-for-college-admissions/) With the seemingly infinite ways high schools calculate GPAs, many colleges recalculate the GPA in the application review process to provide a standardized… October 2, 2024 - ![A student wearing headphones sits on an outdoor bench with a notebook and pencil, looking up thoughtfully.](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-College-List-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Building a Well-Rounded College List: A Guide for High School Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/building-a-well-rounded-college-list-a-guide-for-high-school-students/) Finding the right fit when it comes to colleges requires careful consideration and research. September 18, 2024 - ![The Geisel Library's concrete and glass tiered structure rising above trees and grasses under a blue sky](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-UCSD-A-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Mastering the University of California Personal Insight Questions: Effective Strategies for Success](https://eliteprep.com/blog/mastering-the-university-of-california-personal-insight-questions-effective-strategies-for-success/) Each University of California Personal Insight Question, with strategies for writing standout answers that UC admissions officers remember. September 6, 2024 - ![Red brick Gothic-style university building with arched entrance and stone steps under a blue sky, framed by trees](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-1171907598%2B%281%29-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Understanding Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action in US College Admissions: Pros and Cons](https://eliteprep.com/blog/understanding-early-decision-early-action-and-restrictive-early-action-in-us-college-admissions/) Early decision (ED), early action (EA), and restrictive early action (REA) programs allow students to apply to college early and potentially increase… September 6, 2024 - ![A smiling student in a wheelchair writes in a notebook while a woman beside her looks on in a library.](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-1222792192-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) ### [Completing the AP Capstone Diploma Helps High School Students Stand Out On Their College Applications](https://eliteprep.com/blog/completing-the-ap-capstone-diploma-helps-high-school-students-stand-out-on-their-college-applications/) The AP Capstone Diploma is an innovative diploma program offered by the College Board, the same organization that administers Advanced Placement (AP) courses… August 27, 2024 - ![Logos of Brown, Caltech, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Purdue, Stanford, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Yale](https://media.eliteprep.com/Colleges%2BSAT%2BRequired%2BLogos%2BAug%2B2024-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [List of Colleges and Universities that Require Standardized Tests (Updated August 2024)](https://eliteprep.com/blog/list-of-colleges-and-universities-that-require-standardized-tests-updated-august-2024/) Top universities like Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and MIT are reinstating SAT/ACT testing requirements for freshman admissions… August 23, 2024 - ![Smiling student with a yellow backpack holding notebooks and pointing to the side against a yellow background](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-unique-student-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [Embrace your uniqueness–it's what makes you stand out](https://eliteprep.com/blog/embrace-your-uniquenessits-what-makes-you-stand-out/) Discover how to stand out on college applications by showcasing your unique qualities, leadership, and passions. August 13, 2024 - ![A smiling student with a backpack reaches up to pull a book from a library shelf.](https://media.eliteprep.com/9th-Grade-Summer-Reading-List-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [Summer Reading List for 9th Graders](https://eliteprep.com/blog/rising-9th-grader-summer-reading-list/) These books cover a range of genres and themes, providing a balanced mix of fiction and nonfiction to engage and inspire rising ninth graders. May 29, 2024 - ![A smiling student sits at a classroom desk with an open textbook while classmates work behind her.](https://media.eliteprep.com/High-School-Freshman-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [What Rising 9th Graders Should Do During the Summer to Prepare for High School](https://eliteprep.com/blog/rising-9th-graders-summer-prep/) Preparing for the first year of high school can feel overwhelming, but starting in the summer can help ease the transition. May 29, 2024 - ![Two students with backpacks looking at a tablet together outdoors, one holding books](https://media.eliteprep.com/iStock-922831102-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [Navigating the College Application Process: A Guide for High School Juniors Starting in April](https://eliteprep.com/blog/navigating-the-college-application-process-juniors/) As high school juniors approach the final stretch of their secondary education, the prospect of college looms on the horizon. April 19, 2024 - ![Students walking a path across a sunny green lawn toward a Gothic red-brick university building with green-domed towers.](https://media.eliteprep.com/Yale-1-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [Trends in College Admissions in 2024](https://eliteprep.com/blog/trends-in-college-admissions-in-2024/) The process of admission to colleges and universities in the United States is constantly changing. March 27, 2024 - ![Circular logos for Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, University of Georgia, Georgetown, Purdue, and Georgia Tech over a tablet](https://media.eliteprep.com/Dartmouth%2BBrownetc%2BSAT%2BRequired%2BLogos-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [The End of Test-Optional Policies in College Admission?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2024/14/the-end-of-test-optional-policies-in-college-admission/) What do Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, the University of Georgia, Georgetown, Purdue, and Georgia Tech have in common? March 9, 2024 - ![Smiling student with backpack beside a 2024 Niche Best Schools badge: "Elite Open School, ranked in the Top 2% of K-12 Schools in America, A+"](https://media.eliteprep.com/IG-Niche-EOS-2024-jpg-w400.webp) [Elite Open School](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/elite-open-school/) ### [Elite Open School Achieves Outstanding Niche.com Rankings and Earns "A+" Overall Grade](https://eliteprep.com/blog/eos-niche-2024/) Elite Open School (EOS), a pioneer in personalized education, is proud to announce its remarkable rankings and exceptional "A+" Overall Niche Grade… September 27, 2023 - ![15 Books I Wish I Had Read in High School](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2B15%2BBOOKS-webp-w400.webp) [Grammar](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/grammar/) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [15 Books I Wish I Had Read in High School](https://eliteprep.com/blog/15-books-i-wish-i-had-read-in-high-school/) A list for young people who have an inkling that they love literature but lack sufficient guidance as to what to read next. May 18, 2021 Stacy G. - ![A young woman in a black hijab and plaid shirt stands before a teal wall painted with flowers and leaves.](https://media.eliteprep.com/Faiza1-webp-w400.webp) ### [Faiza's Journey at Elite Open School](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2021/3/1/faizas-journey-at-elite-open-school/) When Roshan Learning Center’s collaboration with Elite Open School started in August 2019, Faiza was part of our first cohort of students. March 1, 2021 - ![Smiling young woman with long dark hair, glasses, a green lace top and pearl necklace](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-144-webp-w400.webp) [Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/students/) [Resources](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/resources/) ### [16 New Year’s Resolutions for High School Students](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2021/1/13/16-new-years-resolutions-for-high-school-students-1/) With 2020 in the rearview and the hopes of a better year in sight, resolutions have no doubt been on many minds. January 18, 2021 Stacy G. - ![Stack of balanced stones on a pebble beach, titled "A Guide to Achieving a Healthier School-Life Balance"](https://media.eliteprep.com/A%2BGUIDE%2BTO%2BACHIEVING-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [A Guide to Achieving a Healthier School-Life Balance](https://eliteprep.com/blog/achieving-a-healthier-school-life-balance/) Work-life balance has been the topic of much discussion in recent years. More balanced individuals are more productive employees, after all. October 13, 2020 Stacy G. - ![School lockers in muted colors with text: "I'm a freshman. What should I be doing to prepare for college?"](https://media.eliteprep.com/IM%2BA%2BFRESHMAN-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [I'm a Freshman. What should I be doing to prepare for college?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/freshman-7-tips-to-prepare-for-college/) There are some practical steps you can take at this stage to ensure your success in both the college applications process and in your eventual transition… October 9, 2020 Stacy G. [Browse every post by year →](https://eliteprep.com/blog/archive/) [Subscribe to the RSS feed](https://eliteprep.com/blog/rss.xml) ## Ready to Discuss Your Options? Each Elite Prep center sets its own class schedule and hours. Find the center nearest you and contact its staff for current schedules. [Find a center](https://eliteprep.com/locations/) [Browse programs](https://eliteprep.com/programs/)